Studio backlot sound stages and palm-fringed artificial lagoon under afternoon sun in Studio City.

Where Was Gilligan's Island Filmed?

The desert island sitcom was mostly a Hollywood backlot, but its pilot and famous opening shots came from real Hawaiian beaches.

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The Short Answer

Most episodes were filmed at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California, where the production built a lagoon and island set on the backlot. The 1963 pilot and some opening credit sequences were shot on location in Hawaii, including Moloa'a Beach on Kauai and harbors around Oahu, with additional credit footage from the Bahamas and Marina del Rey.

Gilligan's Island ran from 1964 to 1967 and told the story of seven castaways stranded on an uncharted Pacific island. The island itself, however, was largely an illusion. The show's tropical lagoon and huts were built on a Los Angeles backlot, and only a handful of scenes were captured on real beaches.

The pilot episode was filmed in November 1963 on Kauai, wrapping on the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. The American flag flies at half-mast in the harbor footage that appeared in the opening credits for the entire run of the series.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
CBS Studio Center (Radford Studio Center)Studio City, United StatesMain lagoon set, beach scenes, huts, and most interior/exterior episodes after pilotStudio set
Moloa'a Beach (Moloa'a Bay)Kauai, United StatesPilot episode shipwreck and beach scenes (November 1963)Free to see
Ala Wai HarborHonolulu, United StatesOpening credits marina departure scenes (SS Minnow leaving port)Free to see
Coconut Island (Moku o Loe)Kaneohe Bay, United StatesSeasons 2-3 opening credits island footagePrivate property
Sandy CayBritish Virgin Islands, British Virgin IslandsSeason 1 opening credits island footagePrivate property
Marina del ReyMarina del Rey, United StatesColor marina footage for seasons 2-3 opening creditsFree to see
Kahanamoku LagoonHonolulu, United StatesSeason 1 opening credits SS Minnow leaving port scenesFree to see
Coco Palms Hotel areaWailua, United StatesCast and crew accommodations during pilot filmingOutside only

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

CBS Studio Center (Radford Studio Center), Studio City
Location 01

CBS Studio Center (Radford Studio Center)

California, Studio City, United States Studio set

Filmed here: Main lagoon set, beach scenes, huts, and most interior/exterior episodes after pilot

The heart of the show. Nearly every episode after the pilot was shot here, on a purpose-built lagoon set with the castaways' huts and beach. The lagoon water was often cold, actors sometimes wore wetsuits, and traffic noise from the nearby Ventura Freeway could interrupt takes. Today the lagoon is gone: it was paved over in 1995 for employee parking, and the area is now called the Lagoon Building, with no plaque. The lot is private and offers no public tours.

Moloa'a Beach (Moloa'a Bay), Kauai
Location 02

Moloa'a Beach (Moloa'a Bay)

Hawaii, Kauai, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Pilot episode shipwreck and beach scenes (November 1963)

This remote beach on Kauai's north shore stood in for the shipwreck site in the pilot, filmed November 19 to 22, 1963. The SS Minnow used in those scenes was purchased non-functional, towed from Oahu to Kauai, and deliberately damaged with a sledgehammer for the wreck. Visitors today reach the public sand via a short hike down. Parking is limited and there are no facilities or lifeguards; riptides are possible, so swim with care.

Ala Wai Harbor, Honolulu
Location 03

Ala Wai Harbor

Oahu, Hawaii, Honolulu, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Opening credits marina departure scenes (SS Minnow leaving port)

The working Honolulu harbor where the opening credits marina departure scenes were filmed, showing the SS Minnow leaving port. It remains a public, active marina and is easy to view from the waterfront. Look closely at the footage and you may notice the American flag at half-mast, a haunting detail from the timing of the pilot shoot, which ended on the day of President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963.

Coconut Island (Moku o Loe), Kaneohe Bay
Location 04

Coconut Island (Moku o Loe)

Oahu, Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, United States Private property

Filmed here: Seasons 2-3 opening credits island footage

This small island in Kaneohe Bay on Oahu provided the island footage for the seasons 2 and 3 opening credits, filmed in color after the show switched formats. The island is private and houses the Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology, so public access is very limited. It can be seen from the bay, and some boat operators pass close enough for a decent view of the palm-covered silhouette familiar from the credits.

Sandy Cay, British Virgin Islands
Location 05

Sandy Cay

British Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands Private property

Filmed here: Season 1 opening credits island footage

Season 1's opening credits used this small private island in the Bahamas, whose silhouette introduced every black-and-white episode. Sandy Cay is privately owned and not open to public visits, so there is no way to set foot on it as a regular traveler. It is visible from boats in the surrounding waters of the British Virgin Islands, which is the only realistic way to see the island that anchored the show's first-season title sequence.

Marina del Rey, Marina del Rey
Location 06

Marina del Rey

California, Marina del Rey, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Color marina footage for seasons 2-3 opening credits

When the show moved to color, producers needed new marina footage for the seasons 2 and 3 opening credits and shot it at this Southern California marina. Unlike several other locations tied to the series, Marina del Rey is fully public and among the easiest stops for fans. The waterfront area is accessible to visitors, with walkways and views across the docks that stood in for the Minnow's departure point.

Kahanamoku Lagoon, Honolulu
Location 07

Kahanamoku Lagoon

Oahu, Hawaii, Honolulu, United States Free to see

Filmed here: Season 1 opening credits SS Minnow leaving port scenes

This public lagoon near Waikiki appeared in the season 1 opening credits, standing in for the port where the SS Minnow set sail. It sits beside the Ala Wai Harbor footage in the classic title sequence. Today it is an accessible waterfront spot close to Honolulu's main resort area, making it one of the simplest Gilligan's Island locations to visit, whether for a quick photo or a relaxed afternoon by the water.

Coco Palms Hotel area, Wailua
Location 08

Coco Palms Hotel area

Kauai, Hawaii, Wailua, United States Outside only

Filmed here: Cast and crew accommodations during pilot filming

The cast and crew stayed at the Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua during the pilot shoot on Kauai in November 1963. The hotel was destroyed by a hurricane in 1992 and has sat in ruins since, with exterior views only. It remains a recognizable landmark of old Hollywood Hawaii, tied to numerous productions of the era. Fans can see the site from outside but should not expect a restored attraction.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set on a fictional uncharted desert island in the Pacific Ocean, but almost none of the series was filmed in such a place. The bulk of production took place on the CBS Studio Center backlot in California, with the pilot and select opening sequences filmed in Hawaii on Kauai and Oahu. Additional credit footage came from as far away as the Bahamas and Marina del Rey, meaning the island viewers saw was stitched together from at least four different places.

The Studio Side

CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California, served as the show's production home. The famous lagoon set was constructed on the backlot and used for beach scenes, huts, and most interior and exterior shooting after the pilot. The lagoon was paved over in 1995 to create employee parking, and no plaque marks the spot today. The studio lot remains private, with no public tours of the former Gilligan's Island set area.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Because the main studio set is long gone and closed to the public, the best way for fans to connect the show to real scenery is on Oahu, where a working film location tour passes by a spot tied to the series.

Ranch Film Locations Tour, Oahu

Oahu: Kualoa Ranch Hollywood Film Locations Tour

This Kualoa Ranch tour, rated 4.6 from 809 reviews, points out a Gilligan's Island location at a distance while visiting a valley packed with other Hollywood film sites, priced at $62.77 per person.

4.6 out of 5 · 809 reviews

From$63Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Visit The Gilligan's Island Lagoon Set?

No. The lagoon set at CBS Studio Center was paved over in 1995 to create employee parking. The studio lot in Studio City is private and offers no public tours, and there is no plaque marking the former location.

Where In Hawaii Was The Pilot Filmed?

The pilot was filmed November 19 to 22, 1963, at Moloa'a Beach on Kauai, with the cast and crew staying at the Coco Palms Hotel in Wailua. The SS Minnow was towed from Oahu and deliberately damaged for the shipwreck scene.

Why Is The Flag At Half-Mast In The Opening Credits?

The pilot shoot ended on the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. The harbor footage captured the American flag at half-mast, and those shots stayed in the opening credits throughout the series.

Which Island Appears In The Opening Credits?

It depends on the season. Season 1 used Sandy Cay in the Bahamas, while seasons 2 and 3, filmed in color, switched to Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay on Oahu. Marina departure shots came from Kahanamoku Lagoon and Ala Wai Harbor, plus Marina del Rey for color seasons.

Is Moloa'a Beach Safe For Swimming?

The beach is public but remote, with limited parking, no facilities, and no lifeguards. Visitors must hike down to the sand, and riptides are possible, so caution is advised.

Are Any Gilligan's Island Locations Easy To Visit?

Yes. Marina del Rey in California and Kahanamoku Lagoon and Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu are all public and freely accessible. On Oahu, a film locations tour at Kualoa Ranch also points out a location tied to the show.

Gilligan's Island was always more backlot than desert isle, and that is part of its charm. Fans who want tangible scenery should head to Kauai's Moloa'a Beach or Oahu's harbor and lagoon spots, or simply enjoy the view on a Kualoa Ranch tour. The California lagoon is gone, but Hawaii still carries the show's most cinematic moments.

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